Two drunken men on the ground in Newcastle city centre after a night of heavy drinking

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Pub managers and councils across the country will be watching the roll out of the first late night levy on pubs and clubs in Newcastle “very closely”, a publican warns.

The city council is the only authority in the country to have given the controversial charge the green-light despite all local authorities having the power to introduce it for over a year.

The charge will be introduced from tomorrow.

Damian Conway, chairman of the Pubwatch scheme in Newcastle representing 76 licensed venues, said: “All eyes on the city to see how this works out.

“For the council it’s crucial that we the licensees co-operate to get things done in the correct manner because what happens in Newcastle will be carbon copied around the country, there’s no doubt about that.

“I get calls from pub owners up and down the country asking me how things are working out and at least 16 other councils are watching how Newcastle copes with the levy.”

Licensed premises will have to pay an annual charge of between £299 and £4,400 depending on their rateable value with £400,000 expected to be generated annually.

The money will be split, with 30% going to the council for street cleaning and improved toilet facilities and 70% given to police used to address crime and disorder, public safety, and public nuisance relating to alcohol.

Pub and club owners have previously spoken in anger about the charge due to its blanket introduction, regardless of whether premises uses their late licence or not.

Tony Brookes, manager of the Head of Steam Limited, will have to pay £1,259 a year to the council and believes some bars may even be forced to open later to cover the additional costs.

Stephen Savage, director of Regulatory Services and Public Protection, said: “The Government has provided this levy as a further power to help local authorities recover the costs of alcohol related crime and disorder which we strongly feel taxpayers should not bear the brunt of.

“We are working on a bespoke Best Practice Scheme (BPS) which, if premises sign-up to and meet the standards, will be eligible for a 30% discount off the levy.”

So far 135 premises have signed up to the best practice scheme and Mr Conway will be encouraging more members to join.